Monte Carlo simulation of stereotactic microbeam radiation therapy: evaluation of the usage of a linear accelerator as the x-ray source.

The usage of linear accelerator-generated x-rays for the stereotactic microbeam radiation therapy technique was evaluated in this study. Dose distributions were calculated with the Monte Carlo code MCNPX. Unidirectional single beams and beam arrays were simulated in a cylindrical water phantom to observe the effects of x-ray energies and irradiation geometry on dose distributions. Beam arrays were formed with square pencil beams. Two orthogonally interlaced beam arrays were simulated in a detailed head phantom and dose distributions were compared with ones which had been calculated for a bidirectional interlaced microbeam therapy (BIMRT) technique that uses synchrotron-generated x-rays. A parallel pattern of the beams was preserved through the phantom; however an unsegmented dose region could not be formed at the target. Five orthogonally interlaced beam array pairs (ten beam arrays) were simulated in a mathematical head phantom and the unsegmented dose region was formed. However, the dose fall-off distance is longer than the one that had been calculated for the BIMRT technique. Besides, the peak-to-dose ratios between the phantom's outer surface and the target region are lower. Therefore, the advantages of the MRT technique may not be preserved with the usage of a linac as the x-ray source.

Monte Carlo simulation of microbeam radiation therapy with an interlaced irradiation geometry and an Au contrast agent in a realistic head phantom.

In this study, dose distribution calculations for bidirectional interlaced microbeam radiation therapy (BIMRT) were performed with a detailed head phantom model and the Monte Carlo code MCNPX. Doses were calculated in intracranial targets of dimensions 20 × 6.8 × 20 mm³ and 20 × 20 × 20 mm³ and surrounding tissue for which interlacing arrays are composed of 5 and 15 microbeams, respectively. Simulations were performed with a realistic head phantom and a homogenized head phantom of the same outer shape to study the effects of the structure of the realistic phantom on dose distribution and to show how important it is to use realistic phantoms. Depth-dose profiles and dose falloffs at the edges of the targets were calculated for cases with and without an Au contrast agent deposited in the target region and surrounding tissue. The parallel pattern of the microbeam arrays was preserved through the head phantom which makes it possible to interlace microbeam arrays even at deep seated targets. As the dimensions of the target volume were increased, the valley dose values increased with the number of microbeams. This sets limits on the size and position of the target. The usage of gold as a contrast agent provided a substantial increase in target dose and decreased the skin entrance, maximum skull bone and maximum brain doses inevitable to produce the desired target dose. Short dose falloffs at the edges of the targets were preserved for all cases.

A model for radiological consequences of nuclear power plant operational atmospheric releases.

A dynamic dose and risk assessment model is developed to estimate radiological consequences of atmospheric emissions from nuclear power plants. Internal exposure via inhalation and ingestion, external exposure from clouds and radioactivity deposited on the ground are included in the model. The model allows to simulate interregional moves of people and multi-location food supply in the computational domain. Any long-range atmospheric dispersion model which yields radionuclide concentrations in air and on the ground at predetermined time intervals can easily be integrated into the model. The software developed is validated against radionuclide concentrations measured in different environmental media and dose values estimated after the Chernobyl accident. Results obtained using the model compare well with dose estimates and activities measured in foodstuffs and feedstuffs.